Their Queen's Back - Chapter 15: Chapter 15
You are reading Their Queen's Back, Chapter 15: Chapter 15. Read more chapters of Their Queen's Back.
Skye exuded noble elegance with every movement; even a casual glance from her made others avert their eyes.
Linda was shaking with fury.
Skye had crossed the line completely—not even pretending to spare her a shred of dignity.
At this crucial moment, Richard turned away with a defeated look and went out to the backyard for a smoke.
Linda stomped her foot in frustration, but no matter how hard she tried to stop the housekeepers from searching, it was to no avail. Everything she had taken from Margaret's room was reclaimed.
"These things have been mine for ten years," Linda thought bitterly, stubbornly refusing to give them back.
Linda coaxed and complained to Richard about her troubles, but he was in no mood to deal with any of it. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he said, "Handle it yourself," and stormed off.
Linda clenched her fists as she watched his retreating figure.
Linda's instincts screamed, "Skye can't stay. She must die."
Sophia's face lit up as she saw Wendy and the other familiar housekeepers return—she couldn't help but hug each of them in delight.
Ever since Linda had moved in, they'd all been let go.
I desperately wanted to keep them, but I was powerless. Under Linda's malicious instigation, Dad completely disregarded our feelings.
No matter how desperately I pleaded, he still resolutely fired them all.
Ever since that day, the house was full of strange new servants—lazy, shirking their duties, and refusing to take orders.
Then it dawned on me: these people were always Linda's. In front of Father, they acted all diligent, but once he was gone, they took every chance to bully my sisters and me.
Step by step, Linda drove a wedge between the sisters, stirring up endless arguments and discord. She manipulated their father's attitude toward them, turning him against his own daughters, and one by one, drove them out of the family home.
Eleanor clutched her chest and finally let out a roar, "Skye, I haven't died yet!"
Skye shot back mercilessly, her voice icy, "Then go ahead and die. No one's stopping you."
"You... you... you—!" Eleanor sputtered, trembling with rage.
Eleanor finally collapsed in rage. Skye coldly instructed the butler to call 911 and have her taken to the hospital, adding, "She can pay her own medical bills."
Grandma Eleanor had never liked their mother, and naturally extended that dislike to the sisters—her preference for sons was obvious. Every time their mother brought them home, Grandma Eleanor would go out of her way to make things difficult.
But she picked the wrong target; their mother was never one to just take things lying down. After three months of having her allowance cut off, that old hag came crawling back, a fake smile plastered on her face.
In private, Eleanor would always bully me. I remember clearly—when I was just seven or eight, a rabid dog came running at us.
Without a second thought, my grandmother shoved me forward, cursing, "Bite her! Bite her! Bite her to death!"
That memory made me realize—not every grandmother loves her granddaughter.
The dog tore into my leg, blood gushing, while she just stood there watching, clapping in delight.
"I'm calling the cops! I'm calling the cops! Skye, you've gone way too far—this is outrageous!" Linda shrieked, glaring daggers at Skye.
Linda shrieked, glaring daggers at Skye.
Skye crossed her arms, her expression icy and detached. Her breathtaking beauty only accentuated her indifference as she said flatly, "Whatever."
Linda glared at them, her voice trembling with rage. "You... all of you! This is absolutely unacceptable!"
Skye surveyed the newly renovated room before her, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Not bad."
"Wow, Sis! This is absolutely stunning!" Sophia gasped.
Sophia stepped into Skye's room and was instantly awestruck. "Wow, this place is gorgeous," she thought, taking in the grand yet undeniably luxurious decor.
"Sophia, do you want to take a nap?" Skye asked.
Sophia nodded eagerly. So the two sisters lay down together and soon drifted off into a peaceful, comfortable sleep.
The Hughes Estate was so spacious that even with all the renovations, daily life went on undisturbed. The workers' efficiency left Sophia utterly gobsmacked—she was speechless, her mouth hanging open in shock.
She'd only taken a short nap, but by the time she came downstairs, the living room was already completely transformed.
"This... This is insanely fast!" Sophia gasped, her eyes wide with amazement.
Linda was seething with pent-up rage. When she saw Sophia coming downstairs, already accustomed to beating and scolding the girls, she marched right up and slapped her hard.
The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the living room.
Sophia pressed a hand to her stinging cheek, her eyes brimming with tears as she glared daggers at Linda.
Linda shrieked at Sophia, "You little bitch! Just as slutty as your mother! Do you really think just because Skye's back, you can lord it over me? Dream on! I kicked you out once, and I can damn well do it again!"
Sophia clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, grinding her teeth in silent fury. But as a creeping fear took hold, the color drained from her face, leaving her deathly pale.
Sophia staggered back, her palm still pressed to her stinging cheek. "You!" she choked out, her voice trembling with fury and terror.
Seeing Sophia cowering like that, looking so weak and useless, Linda couldn't help but sneer inwardly. "Pathetic. She'll never amount to anything," she thought with utter contempt.
Pointing a finger right at Sophia's forehead, Linda sneered, "Sophia, look at yourself! Kicked out at eighteen—how did you get the money? Rent? Tuition? Where did all that come from? You really think I don't know? You were just someone's mistress, nothing but filthy trash. Do you honestly believe Matthew kept you because he likes you? If it weren't for what's in your blood, he wouldn't even spare you a glance if you were dead."
Linda's words cut like knives, each one a curse tearing at Sophia's soul, hellbent on dragging her into an abyss of shame and crushing her so completely she'd never be able to hold her head up again.
Linda had long seen through Sophia's spinelessness—timid, cowardly, and riddled with insecurity. Years of torment had already shattered her psyche.
So what if she managed to escape?
She could never hide her mouse-like fear or those gaping flaws in her character.
At this thought, Linda smirked and leaned in to whisper venomously in Sophia's ear, "Remember what happened when you were sixteen? I have photos. Care to take a look?"
"Sixteen?" The word hit Sophia like a bolt of lightning. Her fingers clawed at her hair, pupils dilating wildly as a strangled scream tore from her throat.
She collapsed to her knees, curling into herself like a madwoman, rocking back and forth.
"No! No, don't come near me! Stay away—don't come any closer!" she shrieked, panic raw in her voice.
Linda taunted viciously, "Sophia, I saw everything with my own eyes. Remember how he dragged you out of the bathroom by your legs? Tore off your skirt? Pinned you to the bed and licked your face? You were paralyzed, just crying and screaming, helpless under his drunken, bloated weight—that filthy, lecherous grin on his face. Do you remember every degrading detail?"
"Ah! Stop! Stop saying that! Help! Dad, save me—please, save me!"
"Don't touch me! Get away! Don't touch me!"
Sophia's hysterical screams drew Richard over. Seeing her in such a deranged state, he frowned and started to approach.
Linda flung herself into Richard's arms, her voice oozing fake sweetness and anxiety. "Darling, I'm so scared, I really am! Sophia just completely lost it all of a sudden! I've told her before she should see a doctor, but you know how it is—I'm just her stepmother, of course she wouldn't listen to me. Now I really suspect there's something wrong with her mentally..." (She let the implication hang in the air.)
Richard patted her back reassuringly. "Don't be afraid. I never thought the girl was actually mentally unstable. I'll have someone send her to a psych ward right away—she can't stay here any longer."
He added grimly, "We can't risk her really hurting someone."
Linda was shaking with fury.
Skye had crossed the line completely—not even pretending to spare her a shred of dignity.
At this crucial moment, Richard turned away with a defeated look and went out to the backyard for a smoke.
Linda stomped her foot in frustration, but no matter how hard she tried to stop the housekeepers from searching, it was to no avail. Everything she had taken from Margaret's room was reclaimed.
"These things have been mine for ten years," Linda thought bitterly, stubbornly refusing to give them back.
Linda coaxed and complained to Richard about her troubles, but he was in no mood to deal with any of it. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he said, "Handle it yourself," and stormed off.
Linda clenched her fists as she watched his retreating figure.
Linda's instincts screamed, "Skye can't stay. She must die."
Sophia's face lit up as she saw Wendy and the other familiar housekeepers return—she couldn't help but hug each of them in delight.
Ever since Linda had moved in, they'd all been let go.
I desperately wanted to keep them, but I was powerless. Under Linda's malicious instigation, Dad completely disregarded our feelings.
No matter how desperately I pleaded, he still resolutely fired them all.
Ever since that day, the house was full of strange new servants—lazy, shirking their duties, and refusing to take orders.
Then it dawned on me: these people were always Linda's. In front of Father, they acted all diligent, but once he was gone, they took every chance to bully my sisters and me.
Step by step, Linda drove a wedge between the sisters, stirring up endless arguments and discord. She manipulated their father's attitude toward them, turning him against his own daughters, and one by one, drove them out of the family home.
Eleanor clutched her chest and finally let out a roar, "Skye, I haven't died yet!"
Skye shot back mercilessly, her voice icy, "Then go ahead and die. No one's stopping you."
"You... you... you—!" Eleanor sputtered, trembling with rage.
Eleanor finally collapsed in rage. Skye coldly instructed the butler to call 911 and have her taken to the hospital, adding, "She can pay her own medical bills."
Grandma Eleanor had never liked their mother, and naturally extended that dislike to the sisters—her preference for sons was obvious. Every time their mother brought them home, Grandma Eleanor would go out of her way to make things difficult.
But she picked the wrong target; their mother was never one to just take things lying down. After three months of having her allowance cut off, that old hag came crawling back, a fake smile plastered on her face.
In private, Eleanor would always bully me. I remember clearly—when I was just seven or eight, a rabid dog came running at us.
Without a second thought, my grandmother shoved me forward, cursing, "Bite her! Bite her! Bite her to death!"
That memory made me realize—not every grandmother loves her granddaughter.
The dog tore into my leg, blood gushing, while she just stood there watching, clapping in delight.
"I'm calling the cops! I'm calling the cops! Skye, you've gone way too far—this is outrageous!" Linda shrieked, glaring daggers at Skye.
Linda shrieked, glaring daggers at Skye.
Skye crossed her arms, her expression icy and detached. Her breathtaking beauty only accentuated her indifference as she said flatly, "Whatever."
Linda glared at them, her voice trembling with rage. "You... all of you! This is absolutely unacceptable!"
Skye surveyed the newly renovated room before her, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Not bad."
"Wow, Sis! This is absolutely stunning!" Sophia gasped.
Sophia stepped into Skye's room and was instantly awestruck. "Wow, this place is gorgeous," she thought, taking in the grand yet undeniably luxurious decor.
"Sophia, do you want to take a nap?" Skye asked.
Sophia nodded eagerly. So the two sisters lay down together and soon drifted off into a peaceful, comfortable sleep.
The Hughes Estate was so spacious that even with all the renovations, daily life went on undisturbed. The workers' efficiency left Sophia utterly gobsmacked—she was speechless, her mouth hanging open in shock.
She'd only taken a short nap, but by the time she came downstairs, the living room was already completely transformed.
"This... This is insanely fast!" Sophia gasped, her eyes wide with amazement.
Linda was seething with pent-up rage. When she saw Sophia coming downstairs, already accustomed to beating and scolding the girls, she marched right up and slapped her hard.
The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the living room.
Sophia pressed a hand to her stinging cheek, her eyes brimming with tears as she glared daggers at Linda.
Linda shrieked at Sophia, "You little bitch! Just as slutty as your mother! Do you really think just because Skye's back, you can lord it over me? Dream on! I kicked you out once, and I can damn well do it again!"
Sophia clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, grinding her teeth in silent fury. But as a creeping fear took hold, the color drained from her face, leaving her deathly pale.
Sophia staggered back, her palm still pressed to her stinging cheek. "You!" she choked out, her voice trembling with fury and terror.
Seeing Sophia cowering like that, looking so weak and useless, Linda couldn't help but sneer inwardly. "Pathetic. She'll never amount to anything," she thought with utter contempt.
Pointing a finger right at Sophia's forehead, Linda sneered, "Sophia, look at yourself! Kicked out at eighteen—how did you get the money? Rent? Tuition? Where did all that come from? You really think I don't know? You were just someone's mistress, nothing but filthy trash. Do you honestly believe Matthew kept you because he likes you? If it weren't for what's in your blood, he wouldn't even spare you a glance if you were dead."
Linda's words cut like knives, each one a curse tearing at Sophia's soul, hellbent on dragging her into an abyss of shame and crushing her so completely she'd never be able to hold her head up again.
Linda had long seen through Sophia's spinelessness—timid, cowardly, and riddled with insecurity. Years of torment had already shattered her psyche.
So what if she managed to escape?
She could never hide her mouse-like fear or those gaping flaws in her character.
At this thought, Linda smirked and leaned in to whisper venomously in Sophia's ear, "Remember what happened when you were sixteen? I have photos. Care to take a look?"
"Sixteen?" The word hit Sophia like a bolt of lightning. Her fingers clawed at her hair, pupils dilating wildly as a strangled scream tore from her throat.
She collapsed to her knees, curling into herself like a madwoman, rocking back and forth.
"No! No, don't come near me! Stay away—don't come any closer!" she shrieked, panic raw in her voice.
Linda taunted viciously, "Sophia, I saw everything with my own eyes. Remember how he dragged you out of the bathroom by your legs? Tore off your skirt? Pinned you to the bed and licked your face? You were paralyzed, just crying and screaming, helpless under his drunken, bloated weight—that filthy, lecherous grin on his face. Do you remember every degrading detail?"
"Ah! Stop! Stop saying that! Help! Dad, save me—please, save me!"
"Don't touch me! Get away! Don't touch me!"
Sophia's hysterical screams drew Richard over. Seeing her in such a deranged state, he frowned and started to approach.
Linda flung herself into Richard's arms, her voice oozing fake sweetness and anxiety. "Darling, I'm so scared, I really am! Sophia just completely lost it all of a sudden! I've told her before she should see a doctor, but you know how it is—I'm just her stepmother, of course she wouldn't listen to me. Now I really suspect there's something wrong with her mentally..." (She let the implication hang in the air.)
Richard patted her back reassuringly. "Don't be afraid. I never thought the girl was actually mentally unstable. I'll have someone send her to a psych ward right away—she can't stay here any longer."
He added grimly, "We can't risk her really hurting someone."
End of Their Queen's Back Chapter 15. Continue reading Chapter 16 or return to Their Queen's Back book page.